Global Monthly Binned Cloud Top Temperature for Water Clouds

Cloud top temperature data for water clouds, derived from the GLI sensor on the ADEOS-II satellite. The dataset provides global coverage at a 1/4-degree spatial resolution with a one-month statistical period. It was produced by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) from satellite observations made in 2003.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of cloud top temperature to study cloud feedback mechanisms in climate models.
• Correlate cloud temperature statistics (sum, square sum, max, min) with other atmospheric variables to validate retrieval algorithms.
• Use the 1/4-degree binned global data to create monthly climatologies of water cloud properties.
• Investigate the relationship between cloud effective particle radius (derived from channels 13, 30, 35) and cloud top temperature.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage for a complete planetary view.
• Data includes multiple statistical measures (sum, square sum, max, min) per binned pixel.
• Product is at Version 2, indicating a level of refinement.

Limitations

• Data is from 2003, limiting analysis of recent climate trends.
• Specific row count and file size are unknown, complicating resource planning.
• Focus is solely on water clouds, excluding ice or mixed-phase clouds.

Provenance

Source

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Collection Method

Remote sensing data from the GLI optical sensor onboard the ADEOS-II satellite, using a reflection method with non-absorption, absorption, and thermal channels.

Time Range

Observations from 2003.

Freshness

Last updated 2003-10-25; no stated update frequency.

Geography

Global.